“Create within the community a place of peace and safety, where the under served and forgotten are given not only the tools but the capability to foster within themselves a healthy and whole life.”-Rev. Panda

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Peace begins within. The outward expression of tranquility is often marred by the inner warring of souls and dreams, making even the most serene of ponds ripple from underneath. Thrashing like a serpent, this outpouring of pain, suffering and anguish…

Cloud Mountain Retreat is a non-sectarian Buddhist center located in southwest Washington. Situated on 15 acres of wooded land approximately 60 miles north of Portland Oregon, Cloud Mountain was conceived and built with the goal of providing groups and individuals…

Spring has come to the Retreat, with all of it’s glorious wind and night/day temperature changes. Fortunately, none of this stops the caretakers from trimming trees, placing plants back outside and cleaning the outside like busy bees. The spider plants…

Oshima or Ojima is a small pine covered island in the Matshushima prefecture in Japan. Once a meditation retreat for Zen (Chen) Buddhist Monks, it is now a walking tourist destination. It is accessible by a walking bridge from the…

As the week comes to an end and I look back over the last year or so, I notice that the combination of Haiku, travels, and such seems to be lacking something. While contemplating on this, I realized that if…

Yuèyá Quán or Crescent Lake is an oasis in the Gobi desert some 3-4 miles from Dunhuang in Western China. The Crescent Lake Oasis fulfills the water needs of a small population of farmers and residents. Home to one of…

Hạ Long bay in North Vietnam is a wonder to behold. Consisting of thousands of islets and limestone karsts, the bays and inlets of Descending Dragon Bay has been marked by the country of Vietnam and UNESCO as a natural wonder. …

Often, the small temples and grottos go unnoticed in the web of faith. These local and often frequently visited temples serve an important purpose, serving fisherman and farmer alike. Because of their common roots, there are times when books and…

This week’s Retreat highlight is less a specific place and more an ideal. The Retreat started as a small garden getaway in my life, someplace to rest, relax, and recuperate along with friends and family. While I would have loved…